Publication
Insights – Quality in Early Years Education webinars
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Welcome to the Insights webinar series. Each of these short webinars will take around 15 minutes to watch. They have been developed by the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and are designed to share the findings, ideas and examples of effective practice that have been gathered during inspection visits to thousands of diverse early years education settings across Ireland since 2016.
These settings are primarily Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings providing the Early Childhood and Care Education (ECCE) Programme of free preschool funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).
The webinars also draw on evaluations carried out in other early years education settings in primary schools. Inspections are informed by our Guide to Early Years Education Inspections and by Looking at Our School 2016 A Quality Framework for Primary Schools.
Through inspection, we have gathered a very comprehensive set of information on the scope and nature of the provision and practice in early learning and care settings. This unique set of information has been analysed and combined with wider research evidence on best practice in relation to a range of themes drawn from our inspection quality frameworks. A list of useful references to additional resources and materials is provided at the end of each webinar video.
In recognition and support of the fact that early years education is a collaborative endeavour that requires strong partnership across all learning contexts including home, ELC/preschool and primary school, each theme in the Insights webinar series will contain webinars for Parents, Early Years Practitioners and teachers in Primary schools. The core messages in each webinar are the same but we have tailored our advice and guidance to each particular audience.
Thank you for your interest and engagement with our work. We hope that you will find these Insights webinars informative and interesting. Our common goal of providing high-quality early learning experiences for all young learners is greatly enhanced when we all work together.
If you have any comments, ideas or suggestions regarding the webinars, or future webinars, please contact us know through the dedicated email address insights_info@education.gov.ie
This series highlights the pivotal role that parents, early years practitioners and primary teachers play in supporting transitions in education for children. The series provides practical guidance on how all stakeholders can support the children in the various transitions so that continuity in their learning can be promoted.
This series of webinars includes an introduction to the theme, and webinars which focus on how parents, early years practitioners and primary school teachers can support the development of children’s physical skills.
This series explores assessment as an ongoing process of collecting, documenting, reflecting on and using information to develop rich portraits of young children’s learning. It highlights effective assessment practices observed in Early Learning and Care settings which are equally appropriate in early primary school.
This webinar provides information on early years education inspections which are carried out by Department of Education Inspectors in Early Learning and Care settings.
Updated version currently in development
This series provides an introduction to self-evaluation and describes practical ways in which early years settings and primary schools can use reflective practice to support collaboration and improvement practices.
This series introduces and explores the development of early reading and using texts, oral language skills, mark-making and early writing, in a playful, hands-on manner, in the home, early years setting and early primary school.
This series provides an introduction and insights on the theme of effective outdoor learning environment. These insights take account of research as well as inspectors finding in Early Learning and Care settings.
This series explores the themes of equality, diversity and inclusion. It considers how practitioners, parents and primary teachers can support and nurture young children to develop a positive sense of identity and belonging and ensure the meaningful participation of all children in their early educational experiences.
This is a follow up to an earlier webinar Insights – Early Years Education Inspection. This webinar provides insights into how your early years education inspection report is processed for publication, steps in the publication process and how to respond to your early years inspection report.
This series focuses on the topic of transitions, building on the information shared in our previous transitions webinar series . It provides insights into changes in practice in early learning and care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and has a special focus on supporting childrens transition into primary school in September 2021.
This series was developed in consultation with the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). It includes an introduction to the theme, and webinars which focus on how parents, early years educators and primary school teachers can promote resilience in children and their capacity to successfully adapt and cope in times of adversity and challenge.
Mixed age group learning involves placing children of different ages in the same Early Learning and Care group. It allows for children of various abilities to play together in an environment that will support their development and their learning potential.
This series of webinars comprises two webinars: one for parents and one for early years educators. The webinars include some helpful ideas on how parents and educators can work collaboratively to support children on their lifelong journey and how parents can become more involved in their child’s learning in the early years setting.
Updated version currently in development
This series of webinars includes an introduction to the theme, and webinars which focus on how parents, early years educators and primary school teachers can nurture and support children’s natural inclination to play and learn through child-initiated, child-led, active and interactive play.
This series of webinars includes an introduction to the theme, and webinars which focus on how parents, early years educators and primary school teachers can support the development of children’s numeracy skills. The webinars include practical, hands-on informal activities which can be implemented in the home, in early years settings and in schools.